COMPLETE SINGAPORE – MALAYSIA ITINERARY 2024

Are you planning a trip to Malaysia and don’t know where to start? This 30-day island, city, and highlands tour will take you through the best parts of the country on a low to medium budget. Whether you’re going for a long trip or just a few days, this guide will give you everything you need to choose your stops and plan your journey. 

Malaysia is a fascinating, diverse and beautiful country that is often skipped by travellers who come to South East Asia. It’s a wonderful place to explore, and is quite easy to get around. Having spent a lot of time in the country, I’ve written my ideal route with every spot I know and love. If you have a shorter trip simply read through the guide and pick your favourite spots.

I have written individual guides for most stops, and am working through the rest so stay tuned for more Malaysia guides to help your planning. Links are below!

Use this guide to create your trip around Malaysia and discover the sheer beauty of the islands on the East Coast.

Singapore: 3 Nights

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Start your trip in Singapore sightseeing, eating, shopping, and seeing Chinatown, Little India and Gardens By The Bay. This is a fantastic city, and you can definitely explore it on a medium-sized budget.

I have written a blog post, ’48 hours in Singapore, ‘ which will help you plan your trip!

Check out my detailed Singapore Itinerary to plan your trip!

Kuala Lumpur: 5 Nights

Kuala Lumpur City gallery

Transport

You can fly between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, but it’s only a 5-hour bus ride. Taking the bus can save time as it doesn’t require security/waiting times and brings you directly into the city. You can book your bus via 12Go.Asia here, and it costs around €20 per person. Flights cost around €50 per person without baggage.

Accommodation

• Lantern Hotel in Chinatown is €19 per night for a simple double room en suite. This super-budget hostel is on the famous Petaling Street and has a lovely deck overlooking the market. The rooms are compact but clean, and a simple complimentary breakfast is included. We stayed here on our first stay in KL and liked it so much that we have stayed several times since.
• Perdana KLCC: Luxury aparthotel for €40 per night with breakfast included in the KLCC area.
• Mesui Hotel Bukit Bintang: A comfortable hotel in the popular nightlife area for €40 per night.
• Oasia Suites Kuala Lumpur by Far East Hospitality: A fancy hotel for €36 per night.

What To Do

• Go to a rooftop bar: There are so many excellent rooftop bars in KL. Heli bar is on top of a Helipad with panoramic views, Traders Hotel rooftop bar has an excellent view of the KL towers, and here is a list of other gems.
• Visit the Menara Tower and the canopy walk just next to it: This is a great place to go for great views and a little nature!
• Try the delicious food: Visit the food markets in Chinatown, Jalan Alor, and Little India for some great food!
• Have some cheap, Michelin-starred food: Din Tai Fung is a delicious, budget Michelin-starred restaurant in KL that serves the best dumplings!
• Visit the KLCC towers during the day and night: They look so different at night, so it’s worth going both morning and after dark/
• Eat dinner in the sky: Enjoy (or try to!) a 3-course meal suspended in the air! This is a very popular arrival to KL, so do book in advance if you want to go – also, if you register with them, they will email you a discount code a few days later.
• Eat dinner in the dark: Dine in the Dark is such an exciting & fun concept and something I have done in London and LOVED! You eat in pitch black and are served by visually impaired waiters. It’s super fun.
• Shop and eat delicious food at Petaling Market.
• Take a trip to see the Batu Caves
• Here’s a good walking tour you can do in the city.
• In terms of the daily itinerary
  • Day 1: Arrive and check out of Chinatown, walk around Petaling Street, and eat at the market on the street near the hotel that night.
  • Day 2: Do a walking tour around Chinatown and Little India. See the street art and many temples. Definitely eat lunch in Little India. The Kuala Lumpur Walking Tour Route includes Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque, Merdeka Square, Central Market, Chinatown, Islamic Art Museum, Perdana Botanical Garden, and the National Museum of Malaysia.
  • Day 3: Explore the KLCC area, see the shopping malls and gardens. Try street food at Bukit Bintang in the evening.
  • Day 4: Get the train to the Batu Caves during the day and watch the sunset at a rooftop bar. Finish with a unique dining experience. 

Stay tuned for my ’48 Hours In Kuala Lumpur’ travel guide.

Pulau Babi Besar: 4 Nights

Pulau Babi Besar Beach

Transport

Boats to Pulau Babi Besar leave from Mersing Jetty on the South-East coast of Malaysia. The jetty is approx 5 hours by bus from Kuala Lumpur, with tickets starting at €8 per person for a comfortable and modern air conditioned bus. You can book your bus ticket here – there are photos of the bus and reviews from other travellers.

Our accommodation organised our boat to Babi Besar, which is typical for the smaller east coast islands. The boat left the jetty at 12 pm and took around 30 minutes to reach the Besar jetty. We paid 55MYR/ £10 / €11 each at reception for the journey when we arrived in Besar. If you would rather not book accommodation in advance, try calling up D’Coconut (they seem like the most chilled-out resort) and asking to jump on their boat. In hindsight, we would have stayed longer, as it was my favourite island, but I was impatient to see the others, so we left. A classic mistake! We went back a few years later and made up for it.

Check out my Pulau Babi Besar travel guide and itinerary for accommodation and what to do on the island. 

Pulau Tioman: 2 Nights

Pulau Tioman

Transport

It takes about 2.5 hours to get here from Besar, and costs areound 125MYR / £23 / €25 per person.

Take a boat from Pulau Babi Besar back to Mersing Jetty – which your accommodation can organise. Boats to Tioman depart from the same jetty, so you can ask your accommodation to organise your boats here next. Alterntively, when you are at the jetty on your way to Babi Besar you can buy your Tioman tickets in advance.

We bought tickets for the 4 pm boat to Tioman Island for 70MYR / £13 / €14 return. The boat journey to Tioman was very rocky and not enjoyable. The crossing takes 2 hours, so take anti-nausea tablets if you suffer from seasickness. It was fine on the way back so we might just have gotten a bad day, but it’s best to take some just in case and not sit at the front.

Read my post about Pulau Tioman for accommodation and what to do.

Kuala Terengganu: 2 Nights

Crystal Mosque, Kuala Terrenganu

Transport

It’s time to travel north along the east coast to the next set of islands. Kuala Terengganu (commonly referred to as KT) isn’t a super popular spot in Malaysia, but if you go to the nearby islands, you will need to stop here to get the boat. You can opt to take a night or two here to wander the city and see the many beautiful mosques and temples, if you have time.

It takes approximately six hours and €8 per person to get from Pulau Tioman to Kuala Terengganu. You can book the bus online here.

Accommodation

•  Leisure Lodge (£15 / €17 per night) Our room at Leisure Lodge was spotless, and the beds were comfortable, with crisp, fresh sheets and fluffy pillows. There are clean shared bathrooms and a communal sitting room to relax in. The Wi-Fi is fast, and they have hot and cold water on tap.
• DJ Citi Plaza Hotel & Suites: Air-con rooms in this central location are €30 per night. This hotel gets a 9/10 review score from over a thousand reviews.
• For families, this 3-bed condo is €45 per night. It has a private pool and sea views and gets great reviews from guests.

What To Do

• Visit Crystal Mosque: This stunning mosque is made of steel, glass, and crystal and is beautiful.
• Pasar Payang (Central Market) Shop for batik, songket, local snacks, and fresh produce at this vibrant market.
• Take a Stroll Along the Kuala Terengganu Waterfront: Enjoy scenic views of the Terengganu River and the city skyline.
• Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque (Floating Mosque): This picturesque mosque appears to float on the water.
• Kampung Cina (Chinatown): Walk through colourful streets, explore historic shophouses, and try local Chinese-Malay dishes.
• Terengganu State Museum: One of Southeast Asia’s largest museums
• Pulau Duyong: Visit the traditional boat-building village and witness skilled artisans at work.
• Bukit Puteri (Princess Hill): Climb this historic hill for panoramic views.
• Try Local Delicacies: At local eateries, sample nasi dagang, keropok lekor, and other Terengganu specialities.

Pulau Kapas: 3 Nights

Pulau Kapas

Transport

Boats to Pulau Kapas depart from Marang Jetty, about 40 minutes from the centre of KT. You can hail a local taxi, book a Grab taxi on the app, or hire a private taxi for €15 per car. Downloading the Grab app (Asian Uber) is the most convenient and cheapest option.

From the jetty, take a boat to Pulau Kapas, which takes about 20 minutes and costs 40MYR / £7 / €8 per person. There are six ferry rides daily, starting at 9.30 am from KT, and the last boat from Kapas Island is at 5.30 pm. You can book your boat here. The crossing is short, but it can be rocky, so hold on.

Read my post about Pulau Kapas for accommodation and what to do. 

Pulau Lang Tengah: 4 Nights

Sunset at Pulau Lang Tengah

Transport

Once your time in Kapas is over, get a boat back to Marang Jetty. The boats to Lang Tengah leave from Merang Jetty (yes, it’s a different jetty to Marang Jetty, which is on the other side of KT). We paid 40MYR to get to the jetty from the centre of KT using a Grab taxi. The journey takes around one hour.

Lang Tengah is 35 minutes from the mainland, and the boat costs 60MYR / £11 / €12.50 per person. When we crossed, it was a calm and enjoyable boat trip, and we could see the nearby Perhentian Islands and Redang Island on the way there.

Read my post about Pulau Lang Tengah for all the details about the island. 

Perhentian Islands: 5 Nights

These islands are a 2.5-hour drive north and are very popular with backpackers. Unlike the previous islands listed in this guide, you will most likely have heard of the Perhentians, as they are much more popular with international tourists. If you would like to have a little nightlife and meet people, then this could be a great last stop on the East Coast.

There are two Perhentian islands:

• Perhentian Besar: The upmarket island with swankier places to eat and stay.
• Perhentian Kecil: The backpacker island with cheaper prices, more bars and a younger crowd

Transport

Return to Merang Jetty and take a taxi to Kuala Besut Jetty. You can hire a private shuttle for €23 per car. I can’t find any bus routes on 12go.Asia or BusOnlineTicket.com for the route. However, your hotel in the Perhentians or on Pulau Lang Tengah may be able to find a minibus for you. Book a taxi here if not. 

From Kuala Besut Jetty, get the boat to your chosen Perhentian Island. You can pre-book these online here. Tickets cost 35MYR per person.

Accommodation

• Suhaila Palace is on Perhentian Besar, and rooms cost €40 per night. It’s just a minute from the beach, but it’s very basic.
• Seahorse Divers is a budget option on Perhentian Kecil. Rooms are €35 per night right on the beach. It’s a budget option, but it is very simple. We stayed here before, and it was fine for 3 nights – but we moved after that to another place on the island. It was helpful because we could walk around and ask prices, so we got something much much cheaper which was far nicer.
• Perhentian Chomel Chalet is a more mid-range option on Perhentian Kecil. Rooms are €70 per night.
• Ombak is similar to Chomel Chalet.

What To Do

• There are regular day trips that bring you to many beaches around the islands. I highly recommend going to as many of these as you can
• Island hop between the islands during the day, so that you get to see both of them during your stay
• Go to the cinema nights at Ombak (Kecil)
• Swim at PIL beach (Besar)
• Scuba dive (both islands)
• Snorkel & Jungle trek (Both islands)
• The boat trips are the highlight!

Stay tuned for my Perhentians travel guide.

Cameron Highlands: 2 Nights

Cameron Highlands Boh Plantation

Transport

You’re leaving the islands and heading to the famous tea and strawberry plantations in the center of Malaysia. This is one of my favourite spots in the country.

Take a bus from Kuala Besut to Ipoh, the nearest big city to the highlands. Book online here. From here, you can take a bus to Tanah Rata, the main town in the middle of the highlands. Book that here. Unfortunately, there is no bus available to book online that takes you directly. However, backpacker hostels or hotels on the Perhentials may sell seats on minibuses that take this route. Ask at reception to find out.

The bus from Kuala Besut to Ipoh took 6 hours and was really comfortable. The tickets cost €9 per person. We made one bathroom/food stop along the way and stopped about 4 times to let people out. From Ipoh to Tanah Rata is another 2 hours for €6 per person. Try to sit on the left-hand side of the bus, as the views of the highlands are amazing the closer you get to Tanah Rata.

Accommodation

•  Siar Hostel: Offers private and shared rooms, with good reviews for €30 per night.
• Traveller Bunker: Offers capsule beds €20 per night.
• Sleepbox offers capsules for €17 per night.
• Rovers Inn Guest House offers double rooms for €33 per night.
• Kensington Sunrise you could rent an apartment here for €40 per night.

Stay tuned for my ’48 Hours In Cameron Highlands’ travel guide.

George Town: 3 Nights

Georgetown, Penang

Transport

Take a bus from Tanah Rata to Georgetown, which takes 4.5 hours and costs €8 per person.  You can book your ticket online here. The buses may stop at Butterworth bus station and require you to switch to another bus which will take you to George Town.  Check this when you book, and make sure you’re dropped off near Chulia Street in George Town.

Accommodation

• Milan Backpacker Hostel is €28 per night for a private triple room
• Aayu Muntri is a simple apartment that costs €20 per night for a single and double room.
• The Granite Luxury Hotel Penang is a modern option which gets you a two-bed suite for €65 per night.
• Campbell House is a more cosy and traditional boutique-style hotel for €80 per night.
• Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion is €140 per night and is very luxurious.

What To Do

• Red Garden Night Market has the best food, it’s in George Town so it’s close to most of the hotels above
• Take the bus to Batu Ferringhi to see the beaches and hike to Monkey Beach.
• Do a walking tour (you can get great DIY ones online)
• Travel everywhere by public bus (it’s so cheap!)
• Do a food tour
• Go to Kek Lok Si temple (you can get the bus here from Georgetown)
• The street art in Penang is great, and worth a walk around the heritage side of the town
• Take a stroll through Little India and try the great food here. Don’t look for fancy restaurants; go into one which has nice Google Maps reviews and don’t worry if it looks a little simple. The food is incredible.
• Walk down Lovers Lane in the evenings, where you’ll find lively bars and international food.
• This is a good tour; you can see a lot in one day.

Stay tuned for my ’48 Hours In Penang’ travel guide.

SIM cards

Wifi is a rarity on the East Coast, and even if a resort says it has it, it might not be working or of any use. We bought Celcom X PAX SIM cards in Mersing at a phone shop. There are many in the town, and you can also buy these SIM cards from local 7-11 stores and other markets in most towns. X-PAX was recommended as the best if you want to visit the islands, and we had no problem with reception.

Even if you don’t think you’ll need the data as you’re not on social media, please consider getting a SIM card to make local calls or to order taxis. Ours came in helpful when we were arranging buses and boats. Finding a taxi without Grab is difficult, and you don’t want to get stuck somewhere unfamiliar without a phone. We paid £6 for 5GB of 4G data, so it’s really affordable even for budget travellers.

While you’re planning a trip to the East Coast of Malaysia, check out these other beautiful islands!

Thanks for reading,
Steph
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